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Chapter 422. Like a Fire Arrow

After that, the investigation went super smoothly.

First, we stormed into the headquarters of the Fuzen Dust Family, taking down all the resistors while obtaining ledgers and documents.

It seemed there were no connections to the Night Elf intelligence network (for better or worse), but instead, a mountain of evidence of other wrongdoings came to light, pushing the situation to one where even the lord couldn’t hide them.

Next, we split up to forcibly investigate other properties of the Fuzen Dust Family (like the apartment where Virosa lived and the underground casino) as well as the Ark Deacon Trading Company’s trading post and the chairman’s residence.

Here, illegal drugs were confiscated, and evidence of tax evasion was uncovered, producing a certain yield. Apparently, the chairman Deacon and the lieutenant Edingo were caught in the midst of a secret meeting, and at first, Edingo protested with a tough attitude, but as soon as he learned about the Night Elf connection, he flipped and started blaming Deacon, which honestly made me laugh. I really wish I could have witnessed it live.

However… regarding Ohanna’s case, it seems the original contract had already been disposed of, and only a forged copy was confiscated. The lieutenant won’t side with the Ark Deacon Trading Company anymore, but we couldn’t secure decisive evidence of the forgery, and aside from employing Virosa, there wasn’t anything notably linking them to the Night Elves.

It looks like the Ark Deacon Trading Company might escape disbandment, so resolving Ohanna’s family trouble won’t be straightforward. Rather, I hope they don’t get too pressured by tax penalties or aggressive collections… The mafia allied with the Ark Deacon Trading Company is thriving, separate from the now-destroyed Fuzen Dust Family…

Well, I’ll think about that later.

Returning to the inn in the morning, I left the report to Leila to Antendeixis and prepped the barrier.

…Alright.

It’s time for some fun…

“【Come forth, Virosa】”

I dragged out the freshly dead soul.

『—Damn it… I can’t believe I’m here…!』

Virosa appeared looking really frustrated. Apparently, she was in a state of “I can’t die yet!” right before I defeated her…

『…? What…? What is…?』

After flailing on the ground for a while, Virosa’s spirit stood up, trembling as she realized something was strange—then her eyes met mine.

『Wha—!?』

Was she reaching for her waist to draw a sword?

Despite being a Night Elf, she reflexively tried to use a sword instead of a hidden weapon or a bow, indicating she had undergone training…

It figures she’d be related to Virosa.

………….

『? A sword…? No, what the hell is this? What is this!?』

Noticing her translucent hand, Virosa began to tremble.

“Let’s be brief. You were killed by me.”

I told her in an intentionally cold voice.

“And I’m a necromancer who summoned your soul.”

『A necromancer… you say…』

Virosa’s eyes widened, and her lips moved in disbelief.

『You’re the Hero, aren’t you!? And yet you resorted to such dark arts!? What happened to your pride as one serving the Gods of Light!?』

…For a moment, I was taken aback.

I never expected to be lectured on morals by a Night Elf…

It’s amusing that despite their dirty tactics—poison, assassination, espionage, and underhanded schemes—they’d refuse necromancy for religious reasons.

—Pride, huh?

“I never believed in the Gods of Light to begin with.”

I said, bluntly, which left Virosa speechless.

Sure, a few extreme cases like me are rare, but there are plenty of folks who do Hero stuff out of hatred for demonic races or Night Elves without giving much thought to the Gods of Light. It seems Priests have to have some semblance of faith to utilize divine miracles though…

Virosa didn’t realize it, but Leila, sitting by the window and watching, wore an expression that said, “You don’t actually need faith to use light magic.” Different races have different senses when it comes to casting spells.

Anyway, I had no intention of engaging in a religious debate.

“【Holy radiance, come to my hand】”

I ignited a silver glow on Adamas. As I thrust the blade in front of her face, a horrified Virosa took a step back.

“You will divulge all the information you know.”

『W-who are you to demand that?!』

Virosa shot a fierce glare at me.

『I too am an intelligence agent! I won’t bow to any torment! I absolutely won’t lose!』

“By the way, day has already broken.”

When I gave the signal, Leila swiftly opened the curtains.

『Eeeek!』

The sunlight spread to her feet, and immediately, she let out a pathetic scream, shaking in fear.

“You said you wouldn’t bow to any torment. As a necromancer, I’m top-notch. I know plenty of ways to cause pain to souls, and I can burn you with holy attributes too. If you still refuse to talk, then—”

I gesture with my chin towards the sunlight.

“I’ll burn you with the sun’s light and send you before the Gods of Light.”

It’s the same tactic I used on Officia. I hinted at the ‘fate’ of being sent to the realm of the Gods of Light, where her soul would burn for eternity—appealing to the Night Elf’s belief about being invited to the realm of dark gods to gain eternal peace…

『…!』

It worked like a charm. Even with no body to speak of, Virosa began breathing heavily. If she were alive, her already pale face would have turned even whiter.

I don’t doubt her commitment to not giving in to torment, but she likely didn’t expect to endure pain post-mortem forever—

『…Haha』

She appeared to drop her shoulders in resignation and laughed.

『Is this… the fate of one whose soul is trapped… the end of an undead… hehehe…』

Maybe I went a bit overboard. She continued to chuckle, and I began to worry. Should I strengthen her reason with more mana?

『No, that’s not it. It doesn’t look like she’s given up just yet.』

Antendeixis warned me.

At almost the same moment, Virosa shot her face up, her gaze filled with an unyielding determination.

“Don’t underestimate me! I told you, I’m—”

Her magical power surged.

“—a Night Elf intelligence agent!!”

In the next moment, Virosa’s entire form was engulfed in crimson flames.

『Waaaahhh! Uggghhhh~!』

Virosa’s soul shouted, consumed by raging flames.

She’s got fire attributes!! The means to purify undead aside from holy silver curses are light and fire magic! Even a Night Elf abandoned by light can wield fire attribute magic! Did she choose to self-immolate rather than let me squeeze information out of her?!

『Guuuh… Garrgh… Waaaahhh…!』

Before I even had time to attempt restoration or calm her, Virosa’s soul quickly fell apart.

With her resentful eyes focused on me, she gasped out.

『You… however… you… obtained our codes and… information about the Demon Lord’s Prince and my uncle… I don’t know how you did it, but…』

As her form flickered in the flames, she squeezed out those words.

『My… uncle… is strong…! One day… he will definitely… take your… head…! You will never… find peace… in the night…! Prepare yourself… you inhumane Hero…!!』

………

“Uncle—are you talking about Virosa?”

I said.

Hah, I laughed mockingly.

“Virosa is dead. …I killed her.”

—Time felt like it stopped.

『…That’s a lie.』

Nearly all of her spectral body had burned away, leaving her a skeletal silhouette.

『Impossible… That’s a lie… a lie! Uncle… should not… lose!!』

Her jaw rattled as she cried like a child.

『It’s a lie!! A lie—!! Uncle is—!! Strong!!』

A voice filled with a desperate plea, like praying.

『He’ll definitely… take revenge for me…!! Uncle! You cannot lose to… that guy! Uncle—! Uncle—!!』

And then—

Puff.

The flames extinguished.

Silence resumed.

Inside the barrier, only a faint residue of fire magic lingered—

“…Good work.”

A gentle voice. Leila, bathed in sunlight by the window, smiled softly.

“…Yeah. I didn’t really get much information.”

I returned her smile, but it felt stiff.

…Honestly, I didn’t gain much information. While it was something that could only be done due to her fire attribute, the fact she grasped her situation and made that snap decision was—commendable, even as an enemy.

I never expected she could wield such high-output magic. If she had retaliated with magic during the ambush, with prior knowledge highlighting her fire attribute, I would have had much better measures in place to prevent this self-destruction… I got outplayed.

As expected of Virosa’s nephew.

As an intelligence agent, that was quite the end…

“…………”

Unconsciously, I reached for the pendant on my chest.

But halfway through, I realized and stopped.

I don’t need to dwell on such things—I’m not obligated to feel bad about it! Wouldn’t it actually be a relief? The detestable Night Elf has disappeared from this world once again! Isn’t that rather nice…!?

Damn it…

My neck feels heavier than usual.

The chain of the pendant weighs down on me.

Under my clothes, the pendant swings like a pendulum, persistently hitting my chest in protest…

†††

『　Ni　se　mo　no　』

—What does it mean?

That doubt pierced deeply, like a tiny thorn, into my drowsy soul.

Fake—what exactly is a fake?

Officia, my junior, desperately warned me through her message.

『　Ni　se　mo　no　』

What could it possibly refer to?

In my world, what would be fatal if it were a fake?

…No, that can’t be.

But once doubts start to swell, they don’t stop.

Why haven’t my wounds healed no matter how long it’s been?

Or rather, why am I—

So unnaturally calm, in this state of tranquil slumber—?

Fake? I don’t want to believe it,

But perhaps—

『Uncle-eeeee!!』

A scream. A familiar voice ringing in my ears.

…This is.

『Uncle-eee!!』

Looking up, the blurred vision reflects—

A sky full of stars—

Amid them, a burning meteor—a no, it’s different, that’s—

Something is—burning. Falling while engulfed in flames!

Like a fire arrow signaling enemy attack—

But it wasn’t an arrow. It took a human form.

I could clearly see the face. It was charred and crumbling—

Ah, that face! That child!! I know it, I know it!!

『Virosa—!!』

I shouted, reaching out to the far-off void.

The nephew burned away and scattered.

A shimmering rain of ashes falling down.

Virosa tried to catch it with her hand—her translucent body.

She became aware of it.

『…What is this?』

Terror.

『Where is this place!?』

What in the world,

—What is happening!?

 

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